So here is my story, I'm 24 years old. I'm attending a 4 year college and I'm in my Junior year. I'm completing my pre-reqs so that I can get into the program at my school.
Here's the thing...
I have come very far, yes I know, but I can't help but get mad at myself! I should have been a nurse 2 years ago, but when I graduated from H.S...I took a year off, got lazy, and when I decided to go to Community school I didn't take it serious enough.
Now that I'm older and watch the people of my H.S. class already integrated in their field of choice I just can't help but feel discouraged, All I can think about is that I'll be so old by the time I have my FIRST bachelors degree ... Sometimes I cry to sleep thinking I'll never get there. I dont want to give up, and I know I should move forward and not dwell on the past and let go of the "what if's"... I'm just venting ... I know what I want, and I want to become a nurse. I just hope I can make it there.
I know how you feel. I'm 27 and although I'm not really concerned with my age, it has of course crossed my mind where I could be and how much time I've wasted. I went in to register for classes for Jan, stopped by the bookstore to order my books, and there were 'kids' in there...very young women giggling and buying sodas and candy. The clerk looked at me and said, "Let me guess, you need to be fitted for a uniform?". I said, nope, I need books. She looked at me and assumed I was already in the nursing program, not just starting pre-reqs. I could have been embarassed, but I was amused. I've been to college before, but wasn't ready and dropped out. Floated around, got married and had three babies. My oldest is three, my youngest will be one this month. I've had a lot of experiences since my first stint with school, which wasn't even for nursing, and not all of them good. But if I had tried this then, I never would have succeeded. I would never have taken it seriously enough, and I think that being mediocre and young is worse than being old(er) and excellent. Now I can help myself, my family, and others. Then I would have wasted everyone's time. Timing, not age, is everything; and everyone matures at different times and for different reasons.
Don't let your age be a factor to your success! More and more there are non traditional students going into nursing many years down the line...I'm one of them:-) I'm 29 years of age, single mother of 1 and I wanted to go into this field years ago, but due to crazy circumstances it wasn't the right time. Now everything is going well and I have time to pursue my interest like I always wanted. It may take some time to get all my goals completed but guess what? Rome wasn't built in a day so I know eventually I can look back and say I accomplished it! I will probably be 32 when I receive my MSN but I'm sure it will be worth it in the end....If it's something you want to do, You owe it to yourself to go at it full force!! Wish You the Best of Luck :-)
Don't feel bad not everyone goes to school right away and not everyone graduates school right away. I will be 28 and just 30 days shy of 29 before I get my first bachelors degree. There are also many other people in my class that are older than me working on their first degree. You did what you thought was right at the time and nobody should use that against you. Also, remember there are many people out there who have degrees and yet work min. wage jobs not using their degrees. Having a degree doesn't always mean anything living your life the way you want to is what matters.
I'm with the rest of them. I just turned 50 at the end of last month (11/11). By then I was a nurse for 1 year and 1 month. I only have my Associates. I plan on going back for more college soon.
Believe me, if *I* can do it, you can too.
While I can't say I love every minute of every day, it is the BEST career choice I have ever made! Helping people and getting paid for it? How can life get better than that?
You are never to old to pursue any career....im 40, married with 2 special needs children and I just got my ADN....u can do it its nothing to it...stay positive, keep God first and you will succeed....
I am 43 and a veteran. I just completed A&P I, Micro and Chem. I go to school full time and am loving it. I will this next term because of New Mexico requirements for ADN, go through a CNA program this spring for starting nursing in the fall. After 20 years of inquiring about BSN with working nurses, almost all those nurses I met said "get the ADN first and do the RN to BSN online." I will be probably 45 when I receive my ADN. Don't ever let what you think others think of you slow you down. In the end it is you that should be satisfied, not them.
I was fifty, FIVE-ZERO, when I started school! I retired from another career first. I wish you knew how many outstanding RN's I work with that have degrees in other areas before they transitioned to nursing. Age is a number and only that. I tell my preceptees that there is only one thing I cannot teach them. I cannot teach them to 'care!' If you care? I mean really, truly care? Then you have the hardest part of this whipped!
Like so many others here, I had to post. I am 42 and just received my RN license in the mail. I earned a BSN this year and it was my first college degree. I knew it was a long road and I had many doubts too, but I'm so glad I stuck to my dream and my plan. I feel so proud now of all the work I put in and the fact that I had the tenacity to stick it out, even though it took me out of my comfort zone nearly every day. Look deep inside you and think about this: in a few years you're going to be that much older anyway..... why not be an RN too?!
I didn't know what I wanted to be "when I grew up" until I was 38! You're 24 and you feel so strongly about being a nurse? That's awesome. And the fact that you didn't jump right into it from high school tells me that you really mean it - you took a little time to think about it.
Go for it. And don't let age or anything stop you.
I started at 29 after having children, and graduated in 1970. It was the best decision for me at the time. I used to wish I had gone another direction, but, in looking back, my nursing career has been a good choice. Don't worry about those friends who had another vision, they might be changing careers in a few years. Keep your eye on the goal and you won't be sad. There are soooo many facets of nursing today, you'll find a place you enjoy. I went from hospital settings to clinic settings, to a managed care setting, and enjoyed them all. Keep up the hard work, and remember we're all hoping you succeed!!
I am 43 and have just finished my first semester of nursing school... 3 more to go. When I was your age, I had no idea what I wanted to do, so I got a bachelors in Business thinking I could do a lot of things with it... but I was not a business type of person & hated most jobs since that time, never feeling like i was using my capabilities to the fullest. The regret that I didn't got into nursing earlier sometimes crosses my mind, but then I think.... at least I am doing what I want to do now & look forward to the opportunities ahead..
It sounds like you are discouraged and not being able to sleep may only aggravate how you are feeling about where you are right now. Perhaps you can focus on your own health right now by taking enough time to exercise and rest. Yoga and Tai Chi are also wonderful ways to de-stress. Do you have a support system... family members, good friends or a school counselor you can speak with? There could be resources out there that will help keep you motivated.
Also, if possible, try to focus on your goals and what lies ahead. Think about all the wonderful opportunities that will be afforded to you. Think about having that first pay check and what that will feel like, knowing that you have done a great job as a nurse for the last 2 weeks. Try not to worry about what other people are doing. They are on their own paths in life. Some paths take longer than others. Good luck to you... you will succeed!!
VIMom
25 Posts
I know how you feel. I'm 27 and although I'm not really concerned with my age, it has of course crossed my mind where I could be and how much time I've wasted. I went in to register for classes for Jan, stopped by the bookstore to order my books, and there were 'kids' in there...very young women giggling and buying sodas and candy. The clerk looked at me and said, "Let me guess, you need to be fitted for a uniform?". I said, nope, I need books. She looked at me and assumed I was already in the nursing program, not just starting pre-reqs. I could have been embarassed, but I was amused. I've been to college before, but wasn't ready and dropped out. Floated around, got married and had three babies. My oldest is three, my youngest will be one this month. I've had a lot of experiences since my first stint with school, which wasn't even for nursing, and not all of them good. But if I had tried this then, I never would have succeeded. I would never have taken it seriously enough, and I think that being mediocre and young is worse than being old(er) and excellent. Now I can help myself, my family, and others. Then I would have wasted everyone's time. Timing, not age, is everything; and everyone matures at different times and for different reasons.